Chapter Three

The familiar smell of lavender and cedarwood awoke me. I opened my eyes, looking at the space beside me to see that Yazoo was no longer in the room. Instead, standing by the window was the woman that had haunted my dreams while I slept. Graceona looked at me. I looked at her. "What are you doing here?"

"You don't want me here? Kadaj asked me to come over."

"I never said I didn't want you here. I do, believe me. But Rufus."

She glared at me. "Rufus doesn't hold an invisible leash around my neck. From what I have gathered from Kadaj, as well as Loz, no one better try anything to stop me from making you well."

"Sorry, it was just."

"An assumption, I suppose that is understandable. Though something I detest, I know your assumptions of us growing apart drew you to wanting to do something that I would rather die than to see happen." I looked at the blanket on my lap. She sighed. "You think I don't see what you have done to yourself. I know your secrets, Leonard. I know of your attempts. You can try to hide them from everyone; however, the shirt gave them away. I can't punish you for your injuries, for you are the cause." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Dear Gaia, I promised I wouldn't get angry. I need a drink." I pulled my sleeve over the scars, not meeting her gaze. She took a breath to calm down. "Tell me, Leonard. Just what were you hoping to accomplish, that being well was out of your grasp. You were the one who wanted this torment for both of us. What is your goal? I'd like to know so I can prepare. Do you want life? Do you want death? What is it! What is it you want!" She clenched her fists. "Look at me, Leonard!"

I looked at her. "I understand you're upset, and I know that I'm the cause."

"I don't want that, that wasn't what I asked." She stated through clenched teeth.

"It was a mistake, a moment of weakness. That's the only answer I can give you because that's all I have." She looked at me. "Drinking didn't wash my pain away, nothing did it for me. The unconsciousness of blood loss it had, so I went with it."

Graceona leaned against the wall with a sigh. "Just so I understand your reasonings, you wanted the pain to go away that you could have easily sought the remedy by picking up a phone. That's why I got you the phone. If you didn't want to call me, you knew my schedule. I hate to say this, but you endured this punishment on your own decision. I wouldn't have turned you away."

"It seems crazy when you state it that way."

She glared at me. "Leonard. I love you. I would take on Sephiroth's attacks for you. But that was crazy no matter how you slice that crazy conspiracy. If I were dead, it would be too late, but seeing as how I was always at the bar. I saw you and Vincent. You kept your distance from me like I was a rash. Getting in touch with me would have been anything but impossible."

"I didn't think you wanted to talk to me."

She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Assumptions are emotions that should be outlawed. But no, I purposely went to the bar just to see you. To hopefully get what we had back, hoping to get your reasonings for the divorce papers I got from Cloud because, in all honesty, it floored me."

I opened my mouth to speak but thought better of it. "You're right. I was letting assumptions dictate to me and lead me to make a dumb move, and I'm sorry, Grace. Come with me to the bar get a drink. I'll pay."

She looked at me, as her phone chimed, she got it from her pocket, turning it off laying it on the nightstand. "No."

"Alright then."

"It has nothing to do with rejection. I'm talking to someone I care about more than a screwdriver. You have some issues to deal with and no matter how many crazy schemes you cook up, I need a clear head. The shirt, remove it."

I looked at her. "My shirt?"

"Yes, I want to see what I'm up against. I'm aware of you needing your sleep. What else have I walked into? Trust me, I can't get any more furious than I am right now. Just let us get past this and work on this mess."

I looked at her. "I'm not sure about that one."

She glared at me. "By the time I get to three, that shirt better be on the floor… One." I looked at her, then at the shirt, thinking of the outcome. "Two." Her glare was icier as I looked at her. "You don't want to know what happens when I say three."

I looked at her, pulling the shirt over my head, letting it fall to the ground. She punched the wall, "Dear Gaia, I stand corrected." She bit her lip, clenching her fist, trying to regain whatever composer she had. I never feared the woman in front of me, but now, I felt fear. "Yazoo!"

After the young man heard his name, he ran into the room. He looked at his adopted mother. "I'm going to need three bottles of vodka, some bandages, a kettle of water, a cloth, and a fresh shirt." Yazoo looked at me, then at Graceona.

"Right, I'll be right back." He ran from the room to retrieve the items. I looked at Grace, who was trembling.

"Your trembling, Grace. Calm down."

She glared at me, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm calm, Leonard! I'm as happy and colorful as a bag of skittles."

I stood up, walking over to her. "No, you're not, Grace."

She looked at me as I wrapped my arms around her, placing my hand on her head, closing my eyes. "Leonard, stop using your powers."

I held her closer, and I soon felt her trembling stop. I opened my eyes, looking at her, sitting on the bed. She looked at me, sitting beside me, holding me close. "Lay down, Leonard. I'm fine, get your strength back up."

I looked at her as she kissed my forehead, laid me down on the bed, placing a hand on my forehead. I closed my eyes, falling asleep.